Kratom has had an unfortunate entry into mainstream media. Despite being used for centuries in Southeast Asia for Its energizing and mood -enhancing propertiesthe herbal substance was most recently viral on the truth For all the wrong reasons, sparkle controversy and an influx of error information. But is it really as dangerous as people do?
When content creator Emmy Hartman first bought a Kratom drink back in March 2024, she thought it was as harmless and “fun” as her other non-alcoholic beverages. After noticing a significant improvement in her mood, Hartman decided to share the drink on her social platforms. It was at this time that she started to get a little about feedback. “Someone said: ‘Emmy, it’s a synthetic opioid,'” she reminds. But what does it even mean? The confusion was also clear in the comment section, with half of the people who express genuine interest and the other half.
Since the original video has posted, several other creators have also emerged about their experiences with Kratom drinks, some of which have been positive, and some have called Kratom completely addictive. To help cut through the noise, we asked Kratom experts what Kratom actually is, whether it is safe to consume and why it is so controversial. Read on to find out why Kratom gets such a bad rap, with clarity from actual Kratom researchers (and a welcome reminder not to take everything you see on Tiktok or the corner store’s shelves to nominal value).
Experts displayed in this article:
Kirsten SmithPHD, is a Kratom researcher and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at John Hopkins University.
Christopher McCurdyPHD, Faaps, is a medical chemist, behavior pharmacologist and pharmacist.
Mac Haddow Is senior fellow on general politics at the American Kratom Association.
What is Kratom?
Kratom is a herbal substance derived from Mitragyna Speciosa tree – historically used in Asia for medical purposes. That said, there are several forms of kratom, and it is important to know how they differ. Although all kratom originates from the same plant, some extracts are further removed from the botanical blade (which makes them less potent). This can lead to major differences in the overall effect, explains Kratom researcher Kirsten Elin Smith, PhD. That said, people still have a tendency to clump all Kratom products, says Dr. Smith.
In general, Kratom can be characterized in two main groups: entire leaf -based products and extracted products. Here is a quick crash course on both:
- Extracted products: Extracting products may take the shape of a liquid, tablet, rubber or shot. “With this you can take less and achieve a greater effect,” says Dr. Smith. “Extracts will provide more alkaloids (psychoactive chemicals) per serving and have greater bioavailability,” explains Dr. Smith. Generally speaking, this means that Kratom extract will have a faster start and have stronger effects. These effects may include pain relief, increased energy, better focus, higher productivity and increased endurance.
- Whole leaf products: Whole leaf-based cratom-which means crushed, powdered or raw kratom leaf-is usually less potent, says Dr. Smith. Because of this, “You will have to eat a lot to have an effect.” However, because of its down -to -earth, sharp taste, this is not always the preferred consumption method. In places like Malaysia and Thailand you can make tea from Kratom leaf or even chew them. But in the United States, whole leaves kratom products usually come in the form of powdered plant powder (which can be mixed in smoothies, placed in capsules or thrown back with a liquid chaser). “With leaves you can only consume so many alkaloids, which means that the probability of all toxicity with leaves is quite low,” says Dr. Smith. This changes if crater products (whole leafs or extracts) are used in combination with other substances.
Kratom -drinks – like the one discussed in the viral tikok – are all different. Most people use Kratom Leaf extracts, but others use Kratom powders, or even a combination of the two. Either way, knowing what type of kratom they use is relevant to the strength and effects you will feel from the drink. Some kratom products can give you a subtle mood increase, while others induce something much stronger. “People claim that it gives you this improved mood and energy at low doses,” says pharmacologist Christopher McCurdy, PhD, Faaps. Higher amounts can give more of a soothing effect. “Some individuals even say that you can get a legal high or euphoric effects if you take a huge amount of it,” says Dr. McCurdy.
What is Kratom used for?
Historically, Kratom has been used for a variety of medical purposes. Some of the most remarkable include pain relief and increased energy, says Dr. Smith. “Individuals who benefit from it say it helps with their energy, it helps with their mood, it helps with a little mild pain relief,” adds Dr. McCurdy. “It also helps with attention or focus, in some cases.”
In the United States, Kratom has also been used as a tool for injuries, especially for people who try to get from opioids or reduce their alcohol consumption. In his own research, Dr. Smith seen kratom used as a general mood enhancement or compensation for people who want to leave opioids, stop drinking or dealing with mental health such as PTSD and ADHD. At the pharmacological level, this is probably due to the fact that Kratom produces both a (mild) euphoric and stimulating effect.
Side effects of kratom
According to Dr. Smith includes the largest side effects of Kratom GI upturn (such as nausea and vomiting) and the risk of physical dependence (characterized by tolerance and withdrawal). Consumption of Kratom can also affect the body more seriously. “When (people) take too much, it generally looks like too much of a stimulant,” explains Dr. McCurdy. This can cause the following negative effects, according to Dr. McCurdy and National Institute on Drug Abuse (Nida):
Again, this is usually only seen with large amounts of cratom, which is why it is so important to pay attention to how much you consume. That said, in A security study Performed by the FDA, “There were no serious side effects that would have led to hospital stay or treatment,” said Mac Haddow, senior match of public politics at the American Kratom Association. In fact, this pilot study suggested that Kratom is generally “well tolerated.”
Is Kratom considered an opioid?
Kratom is not considered an opioid, but it is easy to see where the confusion lies. IN The first US case report About Kratom (published in 2007), many of the first users were chronic pain patients who saw to reduce their pain or find a mood -enhancing replacement for opioids. But it does not make Kratom an opioid itself, which some people on social media have argued.
“The plant is not an opioid, but rather a very, very, very pharmacological complex and versatile blade,” says Dr. Smith. Although it is a partial agonist in opioid receptors (which means it can be used to treat pain), it is slightly binding and does not provide a complete response that actual opioids do. Dr. McCurdy agrees and says that Kratom is far from a synthetic opioid. “It’s not synthetic at all. It is a natural product. It originates from the tree’s leaves,” he explains. The fact that it is sometimes used to reduce damage can account for part of this error information.
So what about these kratom drinks?
Kratom drinks get popularity, appear in corner stores and gas station-bangs are they safe to consume? More research is needed before experts can provide a definitive answer. “I can’t even say that the leaf material products are safe to use because we have no studies to scientifically say it,” says Dr. McCurdy. A knowledgeable consumer who uses kratom with measures differs greatly from a person who drinks a whole crush without knowing anything about it. “If someone experimented with (Kratom) for the first time, I would never say start with a shot,” says Dr. McCurdy.
Kratom Drink brands should also label their products responsibly. Often, Kratom extracts can be found next to the energy drinks at the gas station which is extremely dangerous Per Dr. McCurdy. “Someone will just come in here and think: ‘Oh, this must be like five hours of energy,'” he says. But that is simply not the case. Dr. Smith adds that Kratom drinks may include other psychoactive botany (such as Kava, Caffeine and CBD), which can affect the total risk profile. If you take other substances or medicines, this can also affect your risk, says Dr. Smith. In the end, Kratom is not the synthetic opioids that TikTok says they are, but more research is needed before we can say that the drinks are completely safe for recreational use.
Can you become addicted to Kratom?
While Dr. Smith knows that the legitimate kratom addiction exists, her research shows that most of the negative effects have to do with physical dependence. “By physical addiction, I mean symptoms of tolerance or to use kratom to avoid withdrawal or experience withdrawal if you stop taking it,” says Dr. Smith. For people who use Kratom “conservatively and responsibly”, says Dr. McCurdy “(de) claims that withdrawal is as if they are missing their morning coffee. They have headaches and they are crab.” For people who use kratom more often or in larger quantities, these symptoms may feel more extreme. Still, this is very different from addiction.
“We probably know that if you take Kratom every day, you will develop tolerance and withdraw,” says Dr. Smith. “Now the question is: Is it life to interrupt or impair?”
At anecdotal level, some people say that their experience with Kratom has been developed from physical dependence to addiction. IN A tictoc in June 2024Creator Jasmine Adeoye explains that, after becoming sober from alcohol, she picked up a Kratom drink as an alcohol-free alternative. “Slow but surely I started taking one of these pictures every day,” says Adeoye. Gradually, it was transformed into two a day. . . Then four. . . Then as many as nine kratom drink daily. “I’ve never been addicted to anything like this in my entire life,” says Adeoye.
For this purpose, Dr. McCurdy that more research is needed. “We know that safe (kratom) causes physical dependence, but I also think it causes dependence in some individuals,” he says. This does not mean that Kratom needs villain or written completely, but the conversation is nuanced, and consumers deserve to know what they get into – especially if they are just looking for a fun drink at the gas station. “It’s about how people use the products,” says Dr. McCurdy. “We always say that less is more, and it seems that lower amounts of this are definitely safer.”
The bottom line
Kratom is a complex and powerful plant that is not all good or all bad. It has some legitimate benefits, but there are some risks of being aware of as well – especially if it is consumed responsibly or without the right information. “As a other substance – alcohol, tobacco, everything you use – you want to do it in measure and use it responsibly,” says Haddow.
“I think it is important that there is correct labeling and in the case of a cratomable, that there are suitable descriptions of the product they buy for consumption,” says Haddow. It includes the appropriate serving size to be consumed in one day. Until these types of regulations have been made, it is important to approach the kratom carefully.
If you are looking for a fun drink to fill every day, Kratom is probably not the best choice, given the physical dependent risk. That said, if you want to try a kratom drink or rubber, consider a consultant with a nutritionist or MD, check the labels, follow the recommended serving size and often take breaks. As Dr. McCurdy says: Less is more.
Chandler Plante (She/her) is the assistant health and fitness editor for PS. She has over four years of experience in professional journalism, who previously worked as an editorial assistant for the magazine People and contributes to Ladygunn, Millie and Bustle Digital Group.
